Role of gut microbiota and trimethylamine N-oxide in preeclampsia: pathophysiological insights and therapeutic opportunities

Preeclampsia (PE) is a condition where a sudden rise in blood pressure (>140/90 mmHg) after the 20th week of gestation poses a significant threat to maternal as well as fetal health. PE causes maternal organ damage and several fetal abnormalities which may prove fatal, leading to a high mortality rate. Several studies have been conducted on the role of the gut microbiome, linking its connection to the development of various diseases including PE. One such derivative of gut microbiota is trimethylamine N -oxide (TMAO), a metabolite shown to be involved in the progression of PE by disrupting the normal microbiome, promoting inflammation and oxidative stress. The objective of this editorial is to provide a general overview of PE, assess the negative effect of TMAO leading to diseases such as PE, and provide an outline for its potential exploitation as a treatment strategy. Although the current findings offer important insights into the mechanisms related to TMAO, further trials can confirm its clinical relevance and investigate its potential as a diagnostic biomarker and a therapeutic target.